National Mental Health Awareness Month

The FGCU Psychology Club would like to recognize the month of May to celebrate national Mental Health Awareness Month. This initiative has been recognized in the United States since the late 1940s and was founded by Mental Health America, a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing education, resources, and programming to advance mental health advocacy projects. 

Here are some statistics to illustrate the prevalence of mental health issues in today's world.

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34.

While these statistics may seem disheartening and scary, it is crucial to remain hopeful in order to create a better world for future generations. In solidarity and support, continue to advocate for collective mental health by:

• Engaging in honest conversations about mental illness.
• Educating yourself and others with factual information about psychological health.
• Researching and spreading the word about accessible mental health resources.
• Be vulnerable and share your story with others! You never know who you may be supporting because you don't know what others may be going through.

The FGCU Psychology Club holds the pillar of mental health advocacy near and dear to the fabric of our organization, and we will continue to collaborate with our campus partners and local organizations in order to continue to #breakthestigma.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Lauren Anderson

President, FGCU Psychology Club